Report: Forget Retirement, Disgruntled Francesa Wants Out

Mike Francesa

Longtime NYC Sports Personality Mike Fransesa wants out of his WFAN contract (which expires in 2017) so he can move on to another gig, according to NY Daily News media writer Bob Raissman.

The way Raissman sees it if Francesa does leave WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM there will be a market for his services. There are plenty of media platforms, which continue to expand, that would be a good fit for him.

Raissman writes: Francesa still produces hefty ratings and revenue in afternoon drive. CBS Radio is not about to let a performer with Francesa’s revenue-generating and ratings power walk away from a contract. So, he talks retirement knowing full well his path to the next job is currently blocked.

And if he can’t get released from his contract, Francesa is not going give up and leave millions of dollars on the table, even though his relationship with management, including one of his once closest allies, WFAN program Director Mark Chernoff, is in the toilet. Francesa is not on speaking terms with any of the suits.

There are a variety of reasons why things have soured. The Pope has mentioned a few on the air. Stuff like, having his simulcast preempted by Fox and CBS’ role in that. Or about him and management “going in different directions.”

Reading between the lines, and talking with sources at WFAN, Raissman says there’s also the sense that Francesa does not get the kind of respect he once enjoyed, and still believes he deserves considering the contributions he’s made for close to three decades at the station. Management does not perceive him as its top performer. The suits don’t cater to him the way they once did.